SwitchBot Hub 2 Review: The HomeKit-Friendly IR Blaster With Built-In Climate Sensors
A clever IR remote, built-in temperature, humidity and light sensors, and Matter bridging to every platform, on a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi-only hub.
The SwitchBot Hub 2 packs three useful jobs into one small device: a learning IR blaster that controls TVs, mini-split ACs and other remotes from your phone, built-in temperature, humidity and light sensors with history graphs, and a Matter bridge that brings SwitchBot gear (curtains, locks, bots) and the IR and climate data into Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings and Home Assistant. It is notably one of the few smart IR blasters that works with Apple HomeKit. The catches: it is 2.4GHz Wi-Fi only with no Ethernet, so a flaky network can knock it offline, connections to some SwitchBot devices can be unreliable, and the number of devices you can expose over Matter is limited (the thermometer and hygrometer even count separately). For the price it is a versatile, well-rated hub if those limits fit your setup.
- IR / AC and TV control
- Apple HomeKit users
- SwitchBot ecosystem owners
- Climate monitoring fans
Pros
- Learning IR blaster controls TVs, mini-split ACs and more from phone or voice
- One of the few smart IR blasters compatible with Apple HomeKit
- Built-in temperature, humidity and light sensors with history and graphs
- Matter bridge into Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings and Home Assistant
- Brings SwitchBot curtains, locks and bots onto Wi-Fi for remote control
- Two physical scene buttons and simple temperature-based automations
Cons
- 2.4GHz Wi-Fi only with no Ethernet; can drop offline on a flaky network
- Links to some SwitchBot devices over Bluetooth can be unreliable
- Matter device cap, and the thermometer and hygrometer count separately
- App is powerful but busy and confusing at first, with few preset IR templates
- Some IR functions are not exposed to Google Home/Assistant
- No Zigbee, Thread, Z-Wave, speaker or microphone
Who is the SwitchBot Hub 2 for?
This is a do-a-few-things hub for people who want IR control, climate sensing and Matter bridging in one cheap box. As a learning IR blaster it mimics existing remotes in seconds, so you can run a TV, receiver, electric fireplace or a mini-split AC (which normal smart thermostats cannot control) from your phone or voice, with profiles and schedules. It has built-in temperature, humidity and light sensors that log history and chart trends (handy for a workshop, freezer, kiln or grow space), and two physical buttons on the front to trigger scenes. It connects over 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and as a Matter bridge it brings SwitchBot devices, the IR appliances and the climate readings into Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings and Home Assistant. It best suits HomeKit users who want a compatible IR blaster, owners of SwitchBot curtains, locks and bots who need Wi-Fi and remote control, and anyone who wants simple climate-based automations.
What buyers love
The IR blaster is the star: owners praise how easily it learns existing remotes (often in seconds) and controls TVs and mini-split ACs, and HomeKit users specifically value that it is one of the only smart IR blasters that works with Apple Home, with the switch to Matter described as seamless. The built-in temperature and humidity sensors, with logged history and clear graphs, are a repeated bonus for monitoring rooms, freezers and workshops, and the device-level automations (for example, trigger heating when it drops below a set temperature) are called simple and intuitive. Buyers like using it to bring SwitchBot curtains, blinds and locks onto Wi-Fi for hands-off mornings, the two physical scene buttons, and the polished app with Apple Shortcuts support. Setup is generally easy, the instructions are noted as better than average, and SwitchBot support is mentioned as responsive with replacements.
What to know before you buy
The biggest limitation is networking: it is 2.4GHz Wi-Fi only with no Ethernet, and several owners report that when Wi-Fi gets shaky the hub disconnects, sometimes a couple of times a day, which can throw off AC schedules and remote control until it reconnects. Linking to some SwitchBot devices over Bluetooth can also be unreliable, with a few users unable to keep button-pusher bots connected to the hub while away, which undermines remote operation. If you rely on Matter, note there is a cap on how many devices you can expose, and the built-in thermometer and hygrometer count as separate devices, so a multi-sensor setup hits the limit quickly. The app is powerful but busy and confusing at first, it ships with relatively few pre-built IR templates (though learning your own is easy), and some IR functions are not exposed to Google Home/Assistant (only temperature and humidity), so full control may still need the SwitchBot app. There is no Zigbee, Thread, Z-Wave, speaker or microphone.
Is the SwitchBot Hub 2 worth it?
For its price, yes, if its jobs match your needs: it is a versatile, well-reviewed hub that turns a phone into a universal remote, adds genuinely useful climate sensors, and is one of the few IR blasters that plays nicely with HomeKit, all while bridging SwitchBot gear to every major platform over Matter. It shines for mini-split AC control, HomeKit IR, and basic climate automations. Just go in knowing it is Wi-Fi-only (so a solid 2.4GHz network matters), that SwitchBot device links can occasionally drop, and that the Matter device limit constrains big multi-sensor plans. If you want guaranteed wired reliability or Zigbee/Thread, look elsewhere; if you want an affordable IR-plus-sensor bridge, it is a strong pick.
Frequently asked questions
Does the SwitchBot Hub 2 work with Apple HomeKit?
Yes. It works with Apple Home over Matter, and is notably one of the few smart IR blasters compatible with HomeKit. It also works with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings and Home Assistant.
Can it control my air conditioner or TV?
Yes. Its learning IR blaster can mimic existing remotes in seconds to control TVs, receivers and especially mini-split ACs that normal smart thermostats cannot, with profiles and schedules. If a preset does not match, you teach it your remote.
Does it have built-in sensors?
Yes. It includes temperature, humidity and light sensors and logs their history with charts, which is useful for monitoring rooms, freezers or workshops and for building climate-based automations. There is no motion sensor.
Does it support Ethernet or only Wi-Fi?
It is 2.4GHz Wi-Fi only (plus Bluetooth) with no Ethernet port. Because of that, a stable network matters: on a shaky Wi-Fi connection some owners see the hub disconnect, which can interrupt schedules and remote control.
Is there a limit to how many devices it bridges to Matter?
Yes. The number of devices you can expose over Matter is capped, and the built-in thermometer and hygrometer count as separate devices, so if you plan to bridge many sensors you can reach the limit quickly.
